Heriot-Watt University
Catering Assistant

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Role: Catering Assistant (4x openings available)
Grade and Salary: Grade 3: £24,564 per annum (pro rata if part-time)
Holiday Entitlement: 28 days annual leave plus 9 buildings-closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday). Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
Shifts Available
- Part-time: 25 hours per week - including occasional weekends (all weekly rosters subject to change).
- Full-time: 35 hours per week - including occasional weekends (all weekly rosters subject to change).
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Provide and assist with the provision of professional, welcoming, high quality, flexible catering service to students, colleagues and visitors to the University across all areas.
- Preparation and pre-service activities prior to the opening of an outlet or the start of an event.
- Operate the outlet tills – including taking payments whether cash, credit, contactless or cashless.
- Replenish, clean and service vending machines as trained and per procedures.
- Assist with ordering, receiving and storing food deliveries and stock counting.
- Assist as directed with basic food preparation readying outlets for service, producing prepare to order items – both hot and cold, creation and production of salads, sandwiches, coffees and other items as instructed.
- Preparation, safe operation and cleaning of small items of equipment – to include soup kettles, coffee machines, ice machines, blenders, dishwashers, countertop ovens, toasters etc used daily within the outlets.
- Function Waiting/ service to table, Bar Service, (with relevant training), and assistance with buffet service when required.
- Follow all laid down processes and procedures relating to food preparation, health, hygiene and welfare, temperature checking and waste management. To work within and to be aware of EH, COSHH and Health and Safety Guidelines.
- Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene and work in a clean and tidy manner. Uniform must be always kept clean & presentable.
- Front and back of house cleaning activities as & when necessary.
- Any other relevant duties which may be required from time to time or as the service develops and adapts which may be reasonably expected of the post holder.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Essential & Desirable Criteria
Essential
- Demonstrable ability to speak and understand English to follow verbal and written instructions and deal with customer/student queries
- Well-developed interpersonal skills
- Delivers excellent customer service, with a professional and courteous approach
- Ability to work quickly, flexibly and accurately
- Good attention to detail
- Sufficient physical ability to carry out the duties of the post, including bending, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling.
Where the post holder is in possession of a valid UK Driving License, they will be required to register it with the University Insurance services and drive University Vehicles when required to facilitate the provision of services
Desirable
- Experience of working within a similar environment
- Experience of operating relevant catering and or cleaning equipment
How to Apply
Applications can be submitted up to 11:55pm (UK time) on Tuesday 8th September.
Please submit your CV & covering letter via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment.
We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options.
Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.


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Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/.
Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
About Heriot-Watt University
At Heriot-Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.
Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.
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